HILO, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo men's basketball team fell for just the third time this season in a 90-68 losing-effort to Academy of Art Thursday evening in Pacific West Conference action at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vulcans took an early 7-0 lead but the Urban Knights battled back to take a four-point advantage into halftime before exploding for a 22-2 run to open the second half.
ART U maintained its lead the rest of the way as Hawai'i Hilo fell for just the second time in conference play.
The Vulcans sit at No. 3 in the PacWest standings while the Urban Knights are at No. 5. The top six teams will qualify for the post-season PacWest Championships in early March.
By The Numbers
- Kalique Mitchell led the scoring with 23 points for a career high while shooting 7 of 9 at the free throw line with seven rebounds and two steals.
- Darren Williams followed with 19 points after splashing four baskets from beyond the arc.
- Carlos Ramsey Jr. (11) and Nadjrick Peat (10) also finished with double-digit scoring figures as the latter totaled eight boards with four blocks.
- Hawai'i Hilo committed a season-high 20 turnovers as ART U capitalized for a 32-16 points-off-turnovers advantage.
- The Vulcans also posted second-worst season numbers in field-goal percentage (0.414), 3-pointers (4), three-point percentage (0.222) and assists (10).
- Academy of Art totaled 22 assists and shot 50 percent from the field (33-66 FG) and from beyond the arc (13-26).
- Mike Asante totaled a double-double off the bench for the Urban Knights, finishing with 15 points (5-9 FG) and 12 rebounds. Will Balata led the scoring with 25 points (9-12 FG).
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 10-3 overall, 6-2 PacWest while Academy of Art moved to a 11-6 record (6-4 PacWest).
The Vulcans will be back in action Monday, Jan. 16 for a hoops doubleheader against No. 25 Azusa Pacific (13-3 overall, 8-1 PacWest). The women will tip off at 5 p.m. followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Fans attending Monday's contests are encouraged to wear white.
The Urban Knights will return home to host Concordia University Irvine on Jan. 19.
Hawai'i Hilo and Academy of Art will match up again Jan. 29 in Belmont, California at the former Notre Dame de Namur Walter Gleason Gym.
